Coke to drop controversial ingredient entirely

By Associated Press 1:08pm, May 5, 2014

(Picture courtesy of Coca-Cola)

Coca-Cola says it will drop a controversial ingredient from a variety of its drinks, not just Powerade.

The Atlanta-based company says brominated vegetable oil is still being used in some flavors of Fanta and Fresca, as well as several citrus-flavored fountain drinks.

The ingredient - which Coca-Cola says prevents certain ingredients from separating - had been the target of a petition by a Mississippi teenager, who questioned why it was being used in a drink marketed toward health-conscious athletes. The petition on Change.org noted that the ingredient is linked to a flame retardant and is not approved for use in Japan or the European Union.

The ingredient will be replaced with others that fill the same function.

The Associated Press reported Sunday that Coca-Cola is dropping BVO from Powerade, following a similar move by PepsiCo's Gatorade last year.

Although companies stand by the safety of BVO, they say such changes are in response to customer feedback. Several companies have changed recipes as people look for foods they feel are natural.